Agrippa

Breitling developed the B01 in house over 8years from scratch, not taking anything from the ETA7750.

Are you entirely sure that's true and not just Breitling's version of the story? Not that I know anything definitive to the contrary, but I've read several places that the movement was in fact developed by ETA for Breitling, or in co-operation with Breitling.

Great link, thanks a lot!

Maybe the reason is, other then updated dial versions, the entire line is pretty well covered.

Pretty well perhaps, depending on how one sees it, but there are quite a few models left that I'd personally love to get my hands on. I'd (almost) kill for a super-rep of the Cockpit and I wouldn't mind a Skyracer and a Chrono Superocean. There aren't any really decent Colts either, are there? Then there's the Olympus and the Cosmonaute, as well as the garden variety Montbrillant. But yeah, I guess perhaps the most popular models from each line are covered and they're gonna leave it at that. Hope not though.

As far as the B01 goes, the subdial positioning looks to be the exact same as on the 7750-based models to me. Maybe I'm just cynical, but somehow I doubt that ETA developed Caliber B01 entirely from scratch when they already had the 7750 lying around...

Oh my, that's a great piece. Perpetual what, exactly...

Lovely, lovely things. In particular that "Very, Very Limited Edition" Panerai in the third picture!

I can't think of anything quite in the league of that Vachron right now, but here's the one that annoys me the most:

I'd quite like to get one of these Type XX Breguets, with the date function.

Trouble is, with a date function it's not an Aeronavale, but a Transatlantique, since the Aeronavale lacks the date window. And of course the "correct" Aeronavale replica is much harder to find. Figures.

I'm wondering if anybody out there has ever polished the inside of a gold plated or two tone bracelet with any success? Now I've never examined the real thing, but I'm assuming that genuine bracelets generally doesn't have a brushed finish on the inside like the rep bracelets do. Given that, I'm thinking of trying my hand at polishing the inside of a TT Navitimer bracelet, but I thought I'd ask if anybody has already tried it just in case it's an absolute no-no and bound to fail miserably.

Sounds like very comprehensive service then. I'll have to contact him for a price list, as I'm starting to develop a nice little collection of keepers now.

Any chance you could list exactly what services Domenico offers rosnik? Having a single guy who offers servicing, AR, lume and maybe more would be fabulous indeed.

LOL. We're fast approaching the season when I wish that I did, but I'm a smidgeon farther north, in Norway. Where buying and owning reps are perfectly legal and where ADs would be locked up if they decided to swipe your property. Yay for living in a "socialist" country and not a police state.

I really am glad that I live in a country where I don't ever need to give any thought to things like this.....

Decidedly interested.

I got it as well. Absolutely hate the new subdial surrounds unfortunately. Would have been a very nice watch if not for those.

Totally agree, those new subdials are just fugly.

Account transfer should be the safest way of all to receive payments. Unless your bank does not adhere to the most basic safety and verification guidelines, that is (in which case you really ought to switch banks). I have a sh*tload of account numbers of people I don't know, but have at some point bought or sold from/to, but there's not a thing I can do with them without also knowing their pin codes or internet banking log-ins.

Postal orders, by the way, have been outdated in many countries for years and can't necessarily be obtained any more. If I were to receive a PO from someone, it would cost me at least $30 to have it cashed since they've been discontinued here for ages.

Looking forward to the Rhodium dial too as well as the RG/black dial model. As far as the bracelet is concerned, I used a fine sandpaper this time ...but I have used a Dremel in the past.

I see Joshua has just released a couple of the newer models with the wave dial and Black/orange bezel. Meh....

Thanks mate, sand paper it is then.

Very nice review mate, thanks a lot. I'm holding out for the gray dial to be released, but failing that I'll get this one when I can't wait any longer.

Can I ask what you used to sand down the bracelet edges with? A couple of my bracelets could use a little less sharp edges, but I'm not quite sure what to use.

I feel your pain mate, as I've been through all the reputable sites I know in order to find a well replicated, simple and stylish dress watch. Unfortunately none such appear to exist. The bling and the brash gets replicated very well, but try to find a Calatrava, a Patrimony or a Master Control and you're fresh outta luck. Either they look totally wrong, or they just look plain bad.

Best of luck though - and if you do find one after all I'd be grateful if you'd give me a holler or report back in the thread, as I'd love to get my hands on one as well.

Just got my MM Chronometer today and it's a very nice watch indeed. Just the right size and the rubber strap is supremely comfortable. At the price it can be had for, it really is quite extraordinary.

The single niggle I have is that on my watch the hands are all a very dark blue, rather than the white they are supposed to be, but of course I knew that from the pictures before I ordered. In low light the blue against black also make the hands very hard to see in low light, although you can of course see the lume on the main two hands. Actually, make that two niggles - the lume is very short lived and could do with some improvement.

All in all this has to be the best buy out there as long as you like the design and aren't too anal about the slight lack of accuracy.

I know, I know, these are not from recommended dealers. You gotta look around though, don't you....?

Anyway, I surfed around iOffer just now and came across these (seemingly) lovely pieces:

"Sonata Cathedral Dual Time"

"Maxi Marine Chronograph"

another "Sonata Cathedral Dual Time"

When I first saw the Sonatas I thought for a moment that the pictures were of the genuine articles, but when I looked closer there were obvious differences. Mainly the whole "machinery" for controlling the Sonata's chimes is absent from the left side of the watch, but the dial and subdials too are quite different upon closer inspection and really not at all the close replications I thought for the first few seconds. However, unless the pictures lie they are lovely watches in their own right and I thought perhaps some of the UN fans might be interested.

Much the same goes for the Maxi Marine Chronograph, although at least the case has no significant features missing. The subdials are wrong though, both in functions and appearance, and the dial, although apparently fairly accurate, does not have the contrasting colours of the genuine Maxi Marine Chronographs. Still, I thought this one too was quite a nice watch in its own right and maybe of some interest.

Sorry if this is old news to most, but I hadn't seen a post regarding these so I just went ahead.

Genuine UN Sonata Dual Time

Replica

Genuine UN Maxi Marine Chronometer

Replica

Just ordered one. I'll post some pics when it arrives, unless someone beats me to it.

Excellent wallpaper Pugwash. I stuck it in my wallpaper folder right away.

Thanks a lot for both this post and the progress reports from the trip Offshore! Very, very interesting reads and very entertaining as well.

The site's been a bit erratic lately and quite slow when it actually does work. Just check back later.

AFAIK only the subdials on the gen are sunburst. Looks to be the same on the rep.

If you look at the picture posted by fitipaldi, you can see the dial's sunburst texture quite clearly.

Hi, to be honest, before to see this post I really hated Ulysses Nardin rep watches. They have a lot of colors and the design was not my kind of taste. Until now.

The pictures are awesome and the design of the watch is beautiful. Simple and not overcharged like other Ulysses models. Roman numbers in the dial give the watch a classy look combined with casual look given by the strap.

Pretty much my exact thoughts too. Actually there are a number of other UN models I find extremely appealing, but as seems to be usual the rep factories first (and sometimes only) replicate the busiest and most garish models available. Glad they made an exception this time.